GUARDS MEMORIAL,
HORSE GUARDS PARADE

The
memorial is made from Portland stone and is a form of cenotaph design.
It erected in 1926 dedicated to the five Foot Guards Regiments of the
Great War. The bronze figures were cast from the guns taken from the
Germans during the Great War (World War 1). The Guardsmen depicted are
Sergeant R. Bradshaw, M.M., Grenadier Guards, Lance Corporal J. S. Richardson
Coldstream Guards, Guardsman J. McDonald Scots Guards, Simon McCarthy
(although the legs are Lance Sergeant W. J. Kidd as Simon was extremely
impatient and whilst this statue was being made he walked off and the
moulders had to get someone else in the finish off the statue), Irish
Guards and Guardsman A. Comley, Welsh Guards. The memorial was unveiled
on 16th October 1926 by the Duke of Connaught.

To
the Glory of God. And in the memory of the Officers, Non-Commissioned
Officers and Guardsmen of His Majesty's Regiments of Foot Guards who gave
their lives for their King and Country during the Great War 1914-1918
and of the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers , Men of the Household
Cavalry, Royal Regiment of Artillery Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps and
other Units while serving the Guard's Division in France and Belgium 1915-1918,
fell with them in the fight for the World's Freedom.

This
Memorial also Commemorates All Those Members of the Household Division
who died in the Second World War and in the Service of their Country since
1918.

From
an old postcard, the caption reads "The largest assembly and
military reunion ever known at a war memorial dedication. Stirring
scenes at the unveiling of the famous Guards Division War Memorial
on Horse Guards Parade, London, October 16th, by HRH The Duke of
Connaught, before thousands of spectators, including the Prince
of Wales, the Duke of York, and other members of royalty. An impressive
scene was the march past, at the salute, of 15,000 Guardsmen, past
and present members, mobilised once again from every corner of the
British Isles, to pay homage to their dead warriors. Our picture
shows HRH the Prince of Wales leading the Welsh Guards, (of which
Regiment he is Colonel-in-Chief) in the march past after the unveiling
ceremony".